Deanna Burgart is an experienced speaker, trainer, engineer and mentor that has a talent for identifying gaps and providing solutions to systemic, organizational and transformational change. She brings over 20 years of experience and education in oil, gas, renewables and pipelines and is passionate about global energy transitions and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People. She helps STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused organizations move forward in operationalizing Indigenous inclusion and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.
Her lived experience as a child expatriate in Singapore, First Nations adoptee and Indigenous youth mentor has developed her love for finding cross collaboration opportunities between youth, government, Indigenous communities and industries. She believes that cross mentoring and the fact that everyone we meet has something to teach and something to learn from us will create innovative opportunities for all to grow.
Her experience from a young age as a formally trained pianist, vocalist and musical theatre performer led to her belief that incorporating the Arts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math will engage future diverse perspectives into STEM (making STEAM). She is the President of Indigenous Engineering Inclusion Inc. and co-founder of the Empowered Innovation Institute, an initiative with Artist Researcher, Yvette Dubel, that brings diverse groups; from Energy Senior Leadership to Indigenous Post-Secondary STEM students to explore collaboration through gamified play. She is also the co-founder of IndigeSTEAM – A non-profit youth initiative that connects Indigenous professionals, post-secondary students and youth in the spirit of mentoring and collaboration.